Enough’s enough, give us some change Loz | Opinion, Poll

WE FEEL YA: Change it up NSW, Matt Findlay and Nick McGrath reckon, or face another State of Origin series ending like this. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Matt Findlay and Nick McGrath enjoy plenty of healthy debates in the Central Western Daily bullpen, particularly around State of Origin.

Normally the two are at loggerheads regarding the Blues side but incredibly, they agree on plenty this year, mainly the fact Matty Johns hit the nail on the head – loyalty stinks when it isn’t deserved.

CH-CH-CHANGES...PLEASE

MATT FINDLAY

It’s time to talk State of Origin, it’s also time to listen to Daley spout his usual rhetoric about “staying loyal”.

Newsflash Loz, that plan stinks.

I’m the first to admit Queensland’s team over the last 10 or so years has been a once-in-a-generation unit, but even so, NSW isn’t going to beat the Queenslanders at their own game.

So, champion, instead of picking the same team and watching them get flogged why not pick the blokes who haven’t banged on the selection door so much as ripped it from its hinges?

There’s a handful of blokes in form and ready to go – think the likes of Paul Vaughan, Jordan McLean, BJ Leilua, Tom and Jake Trobjevic and Mitchell Pearce.

Pick them, pick them all.

While you’re at it, pick some of the other gigantic bodies floating around NSW and bash Queensland’s aging pack through the middle, then let NSW’s exciting outside backs go to work.

And no, those exciting outside backs don’t include Blake Ferguson this year.

There’s a host of young, electrifying, in form outside backs to pick from even with James Roberts ruled out – Dylan Walker, Jack Bird, BJ Leilua, Tom Trobjevic, David Nofoaluma… does anyone know if Suliasi Vunivalu is eligible for State of Origin?

And for goodness sake, don’t pick Robbie Farah like I read you’re going to on Monday morning.

Can we forget about using Matt Moylan as a utility too?

If he starts, great, fine, whatever… but it shouldn’t be in place of James Tedesco or James Maloney.

Why does NSW need cover for a fullback and a five-eighth?

Moylan’s great, but I don’t see much value in having him on the bench.

Jack Bird’s the obvious, logical choice as a utility for me although I think a strong argument could be made for Jack Wighton too.

Don’t come at me with the usual ‘Findlay you’ve never played that level, you’re not a selector, you don’t know what you’re talking about, blah, blah blah’ argument.

I know all that, but I also know what hasn’t worked for NSW in the last 11 years – much like a lot of you, I’m wagering.

SIZE DOES MATTER

NICK McGRATH

Was it when Darren Lockyer swooped on a wayward Blues pass to pinch Origin three in 2006, gifting the Maroons a 16-14 win and in turn, beginning that stretch of nine series wins?

Or was it when the raging bull, big Gordie Tallis, slung our NSW fullback what now seems about 35 metres in to touch to swing momentum Queensland’s way?

For the record, I know on both of those occasions Brett Hodgson was involved, but as a Tiger in freefall at the moment, I can’t bring myself to blame Hodgo.

He’s a legend. Bring him back. He'd still kill it.

So, let’s dig deeper ...

Has it been slowly embedded is us year after year when we hear Paul Vautin, Billy Moore or Wally Lewis – or that annoying friend everyone has who was born in NSW and has only ever gone to Queensland to go to Wet’N’Wild – telling anyone who’ll listen the Maroons never give up?